Study club prepares for next chapter
The May dinner meeting of Book Lovers Study Club featured guest speaker Cynthia Geis, GFWC Alabama North District director.
Geis and I have been friends since the early 1980s when we served on the GFWC/AFWC Alabama Junior Women’s Club Board of Directors and Suellen Brazil served as its president.
Sue E. Hester of the Russellville Book Lovers Study Club became the 1986-1988 GFWC Alabama Federation of Women Clubs president.
Hester was a wonderful mentor for everyone, and she contributed so much to the General Federation, the Alabama Federation, and her community.
Geis gave tribute to Hester for her leadership.
“She loved Book Lovers Study Club and at conventions when Book Lovers received an award everyone would say, ‘Sue would be so proud!’” For years, Geis has served the GFWC Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs International.
She has served in numerous leadership positions including president of the GFWC Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs and president of the GFWC Southern Region Women’s Clubs.
Geis also served on the GFWC International Board of Directors and as GFWC/AFWC Alabama Junior Clubs president.
She has chaired several Community Service Projects, By-Laws, Resolutions and Club Woman of the Year committees.
Geis worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville until her retirement.
She studied Liberal Arts at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is a 1969 graduate of Butler High School in Huntsville.
Gregg Geis attended the meeting as the special guest. He serves as the official photographer of the GFWC Alabamasmugmug. com events.
The meeting marked the close of the 2024-2026 Administration with Gayle McAlister serving as president.
During her tenure, the club supported many projects, programs and donations through the GFWC Alabama Living the Volunteer Spirit: Compassion in Action/ Mental Health Matters Theme.
Awards and recognitions included:
• Civic Engagement and Outreach — Julia Bullock Plaque
• Communication and Public Relations Creativity Award
• Madelyn Rowell Communications Award/Plaque
• Domestic and Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention
• Scholarships
• University of Alabama Club Yearbook Scholarship
• Health and Wellness
• Safeplace
• St. Jude’s Hospital
• Alzheimer’s
• Autism
• Arts Crawl
• Veterans
• President’s Award of Excellence Geis conducted the installation of the 20262028 officers and presented each officer with a binder outlining the responsibilities of her office.
The 2026-2028 officers are: President Susie Hovater Malone; Vice President Mona Hanan; Secretary Ponda Gordon; Treasurer Donita Abston; Historian Cheri McCain; Parliamentary Advisor Gayle McAlister.
Caroline Hollowell, GFWC Alabama president for 2026-2028, has selected “Alabama Powering Potential — READ” for her president’s project.
She is a dedicated educator and assistant principal at Fairhope West Elementary School.
This project will be supported by GFWC Alabama Clubs, schools, parents, organizations and businesses.
Club members also discussed upcoming events for 2026-2028.
Book Lovers Study Club will celebrate 100 years of volunteer service in 2028 and plans for this major milestone will begin soon.
Other Book Lovers Study Club events are an orientation for members at the lake in June; attending GFWC Leadership Workshop in July at Hoover; and hosting GFWC District I meeting in Russellville in September.
The club appointed Community Service Program Chairmen and Standing Committees, and members are selecting programs.
McAlister concluded the meeting with final remarks.
In appreciation for her past two years as president, members presented her with a gift certificate.
